Press room

MINNEAPOLIS (October 5, 2016) — The 2016 Medal of Honor Convention celebrates the virtues and values of our veterans and the service and sacrifices they have made for their country. Held annually, the Medal of Honor Convention brings together Medal of Honor Recipients who have been recognized for their heroism and dedication with the country’s highest award for military valor. As the only American-­‐owned and operated hearing technology company in the industry, Starkey Hearing Technologies is proud to be a supporter of this year’s convention, October 4-­‐8, 2016.

“We are proud to be part of this prestigious event,” Starkey Hearing Technologies Director of Government Sales Jeremy Swanson said. “These men and women have given so much to our country, so to be able to say to them, in-­‐person, ‘Thank you for your dedication, your honor, your valor and your sacrifice,’ is an honor. We’ve worked hard to build a solid relationship with the Department of Veterans Affairs to help veterans find better hearing solutions, and we’re proud to say that we are continuing to work hard to provide the most advanced hearing technology available to our military veterans.”

This is the first time the Medal of Honor Convention will be held in Minnesota since it was founded in 1958. Convention events kicked off October 3 with the brand-­‐new Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial at the State Capital where 56 Minnesotans who have received the Medal of Honor were recognized and will continue through Saturday evening with the Patriots Awards Gala.

The Medal of Honor is the highest U.S. military award given by Congress. It is awarded to a soldier who has gone above and beyond the call of duty. The award was originally started in 1861, and since then, 3,500 recipients have been honored. To learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the Medal of Honor Convention, please click here.

Hearing Loss and Veterans

Hearing loss and related problems like tinnitus are on the rise for military veterans. In 2011, a study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that veterans are 30 percent more likely to have severe hearing loss than non-­‐veterans, and those who served in the United States or overseas from September 2001 through March 2010, were found four times more likely than non-­‐veterans to have severe hearing loss. In 2012, the American Tinnitus Association listed tinnitus as the leading service-­‐related disability among U.S. veterans. And more recently in 2015, the United States Army reported that “data collected by the Veterans Affairs showed as many as 52 percent of combat soldiers have moderately severe hearing loss or worse.”

To learn more about Starkey Hearing Technologies and hearing loss resources for veterans please click here.

About Starkey Hearing Technologies

Starkey Hearing Technologies is a privately held, global hearing technology company headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. The company is recognized for its innovative design, development and distribution of comprehensive digital hearing systems. Founded in 1967, Starkey Hearing Technologies currently employs more than 4,800 people and operates 21 facilities and conducts business in more than 100 markets worldwide. The company develops, manufactures and distributes hearing aids via three distinct brands – Audibel, NuEar and its original brand, Starkey. For more information, visit www.starkey.com.